Illuminated sign



A g. 1964 c. J. ESCALANTE ILLUMINATED SIGN Filed April 10, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 2

mzvmz. CONRAD d. ESCALANT E W N WW ATTORNEYS g- 25, 1964 c. J. ESCALANTE 3,145,493

ILLUMINATED SIGN Filed April 10, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mm. CONRAD J. ESCALANTE ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,145,493 ILLUMINATED SIGN Conrad 3. Escalante, 1251 Gaylord St, Long Beach 13, Calif.

Filed Apr. 10, 1962, Ser. No. 186,435 2 Claims. (Cl. 40-130) This invention relates to the structure of an outdoor sign having electric light bulbs on both faces outlining the shape of the sign. It is an object of the invention to provide an outdoor sign which can be economically made, which will be sturdy, and which will afford considerable protection for the electric light bulbs mounted thereon.

The structure of the sign is described hereinafter in detail and is illustrated on the drawings, of which FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a completed sign embodying the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of the same;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary sectional view, on a larger scale, taken on the line 33 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is an exploded perspective view of some of the parts of the sign shown in FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of a blank to be made into one of the parts shown in FIGURE 4.

The sign illustrated on the drawings has a contour shape of a non-symmetrical arrowhead, the contour being composed of four straight lines of unequal lengths. The contour of the sign is defined by a rim consisting of four parts 10, 12, 14, 16 made of sheet metal and permanently joined at their ends to one another as by welding. Each of these parts is made from a blank 20 such as is shown in FIGURE 5, the blanks for the four parts being of unequal length but of the same width. Each blank 20 is a rectangle with corners trimmed oif as indicated. The longitudinal margins 22, 24 are folded inward until they are nearly parallel with the plane of the central portion 26, and from these marginal portions narrow flanges 28, 30 are bent up so as to be substantially perpendicular to the plane of the central portion 26 (FIGURE 3). Each blank 20 has a narrow flange 32 at each end to lap the end flanges of the parts of the rim which are next thereto, the overlapping flanges being permanently joined as by welding.

Two side plates 34, 36 are secured to the margin portions 22, 24 respectively to enclose a space 38 in which are contained a desired number of electric light receptacles 40 and suitable wiring 42 therefor. Each of these side plates is shaped to the contour defined by the rim of the sign and may consist of a single piece of sheet metal or, for economy in cutting, two triangular pieces 44, 46 joined together as by welding. Each piece forming the side plate has a peripheral flange 48 which engages the flanges 28 or 30 of the rim parts when the plate is inserted into the space surrounded by the rim. The flanges 28 and 30 act as stops to locate theside plates 34, 36 when the latter are being assembled with the rim to which they are thereupon permanently secured by welding or otherwise.

Each of the side plates is provided with spaced holes 49 along their margins behind which are mounted the 3,145,493 Patented Aug. 25., 1964 electric light receptacles 40 so that light bulbs 50 can be inserted in the receptacles through the side plates. To provide protection for the bulbs 50, the inturned margins 22, 24 of the rim parts 10, 12, 14, 16 are wide enough so that a bulb 50 when mounted in a receptacle 40 does not project beyond the plane defined by the edge 52 of the rim.

For further protection of the light bulbs 51 a rail 54 is secured to each of the side plates. Each rail may be made of one or more pieces of sheet metal preferably doubled along a line of fold near the longitudinal median with a narrow flange 56 along one edge thereof. Each rail is uniformly spaced from the corresponding flange (22 or 24) of the rim to form a channel in which the light bulbs 50 on that side of the sign are located. The flange 56 of each rail is welded or otherwise permanently secured to the corresponding side plate, as indicated in FIGURE 3. In FIGURE 4 the rail 54 is shown as being composed of two pieces, one of which has end flanges 58 to overlap for a welded joint. If the rail is composed of only one piece, the ends are welded together in like manner to form a closed figure similar to that of the rim.

The edge 52 of the rim is a fold edge and is therefore smooth and rounded as is also the outer edge of the rail 54 so that no raw cut edge of metal is exposed on either side of the sign.

The rim part 12 is provided with weep holes 64 at the lowermost point of the sign for the escape of any moisture which may get into the space between the side plates 34, 36. The rim part 12 is also provided with a suitable hole 66 for the entry of wires 68 by which'the bulbs 50 can be connected to a source of electric power.

For the support of the sign, a simple stand '70 may be secured thereto. As shown, the stand consists of a metal strap fastened to the rim at two convenient points and shaped to hold the sign at a desired angle to the horizontal. If it is desired to use the sign in different places, it can be carried from one place to another by a convenient handle '72 secured to the upper rim member 10.

I claim:

1. In an outdoor illuminated sign: a rim member de fining the external configuration of the sign and made of bent sheet material, said rim having an outer wall part and two inner wall parts formed integrally with the rim and extending inwardly from the respective edges of the rim along the inside of the rim, said inner wall parts having ends spaced from each other and bent outwardly to form parallel stop flanges; a pair of plates having external configurations corresponding to the rim and fitted in the rim on opposite sides of the sign, said plates abutting and secured to the flanges of the respective inner wall parts; said flanges maintaining said plates in spaced relationship; lamp sockets mounted on the plates; and wiring for the lamp sockets and located along the inner sides of said plates and in the space between the plates.

2. In an outdoor illuminated sign: a rim member defining the external configuration of the sign and made of bent sheet material, said rim having an outer wall part and two inner wall 'parts formed integrally with the rim and extending inwardly from the respective edges 3 of the rim along the inside of the rim, said inner wall parts having ends spaced from each other and bent outwardly to form parallel stop flanges; a pair of plates having external configurations corresponding to the rim and fitted in the rim on opposite sides of the sign, said plates abutting and secured to the flanges of the respective inner wall parts; said flanges maintaining said plates in spaced relationship;,lamp sockets mounted on the plates; Wiring for the lamp sockets and located along the inner sides of said plates and in the space between the plates; and a mounting bracket attached to the outer wall part of said rim.

UNITED STATES PATENTS Wilhelm June 14, Murray Aug. 25, Goehst Oct. 27, Walin Feb. 12, Norcien Aug. 6, Lang Dec. 27,

FOREIGN PATENTS Germany Nov. 16, 

1. IN AN OUTDOOR ILLUMINATED SIGN: A RIM MEMBER DEFINING THE EXTERNAL CONFIGURATION OF THE SIGN AND MADE OF BENT SHEET MATERIAL, SAID RIM HAVING AN OUTER WALL PART AND TWO INNER WALL PARTS FORMED INTEGRALLY WITH THE RIM AND EXTENDING INWARDLY FROM THE RESPECTIVE EDGES OF THE RIM ALONG THE INSIDE OF THE RIM, SAID INNER WALL PARTS HAVING ENDS SPACED FROM EACH OTHER AND BENT OUTWARDLY TO FORM PARALLEL STOP FLANGES; A PAIR OF PLATES HAVING EXTERNAL CONFIGURATIONS CORRESPONDING TO THE RIM AND FITTED IN THE RIM ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE SIGN, SAID PLATES ABUTTING AND SECURED TO THE FLANGES OF THE RESPECTIVE INNER WALL PARTS; SAID FLANGES MAINTAINING SAID PLATES IN SPACED 